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Egyptian security forces attempted to apprehend smugglers carrying weapons, missiles and drugs across the Egypt-Libya border early on Monday morning.

The suspects allegedly were trying to enter Egypt 8 km south of the Salloum land port in the military western region.

Border guards exchanged fire with the smugglers before they fled back into Libya, leaving behind them four medium-sized cases filled with cannabis, seven different types of missiles, four automatic guns, 14 containers of bullets and a large quantity of ammunition.

The Armed Forces have recently been stepping up efforts to secure the nation’s borders.